Dictating machine



Aug. 5 1941.

B. A. SCHIFF DICTATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 5,194].

B. A. scHlFF DICTATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1940 Aug. 5, 1941. B. A.'SCH|FF DICTATING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet s fl w 69 6 78 5 m 7 B. A. SCHIF F DICTATING- MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1940 Aug. 5, 1941.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Mwm 66 L Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PAT'ENT OFFICE DICTATING MACHINE Benjamin A. Schifi,'Ghicago, 111. Application February 21, 1940,:Serial N0. 320.;046 1 clai (c1.274 17) My invention relates to a sound recording and reproducing machine for commercial dictating use.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a dictating machine having push button control for setting the device in receiving, reproducing and neutral positions. My controls are so constructed that a record cannot be withdrawn or placed onto the mandrel unless the machine is in neutral position, thus preventing damage to the styli and record. The push buttons of my control members are visible at all times and the user may always know the position of the machine by seeing the position of the buttons.

My device is easy to manipulate, rapid and certain in operation, economical in construction and lasting in wear. My push button construction also eliminates old, bulky and now unnecessary parts. My push button controls are compact and are located in a convenientposition for operation,

away from accidental and damaging contact by the user with the record. My controls also act 'to definitely lock the machine in recording, 'reproducing or neutral position, to remain in such position until changed by the user, and such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention. I

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of my invention, yet I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan viewof my dictating machine; Fig. 2 is an end elevation in section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is airont elevation on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the push buttons and jewels; Fig. 5'is an end elevation looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 vis a vertical staggered sectional view through .the sound carriage and neutral control member; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the sound .carriage at the dictate position; Fig. 8 is a vertical staggered sectionalview through the sound carriage and the listen control member.

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a frame 10 having a vertical support H rotatably supporting a shaftlZ upon which is mounted a rotatable mandrel 13. The

shaft I2 is connected to a driving wheel l4 moved by a belt l5 drivenby a suitable power such as .anelectric motor IS.

A sound recording and reproducing member -to dictate.

1.! has a carriage l8 slidable :on a rod 19 at ,tached on either end to upstanding portions :20 .of frame I10. The sound member I! has a cutting stylus 2| :for contacting a wax atrolmembers28 have buttons 29 attached to the upper ends of their upper shank portions 26.

Said buttons 29 may be marked Neutral, Dictate and Listen, or other suitable descriptions. Each of said control members 28 has an upper shank portion .26 extending within the upper slots 24 of housing :23. Immediately below the upper shank .portions126 .my control members 28 have an enlarged body portion 30, and below said :body portion a "lower .shank portion 2], the ends of which extend through the lower slots of housing 23. On each of said lower shank portions 21 is a substantially V shaped notch 3| adapted to removably receive, when any of said control members is moved to a lower position, a locking bar 32. .The ends of the lower shanks 2'I-of said control members are rounded at 33 'to act as a cam surface on locking bar 32. The

locking bar 32 is pivotally attached to'the inner and-outer rounded stubs 34 and 35 respectively of a plate .36rotatably attached to the housing 23.

A pair of stops 31 on opposite outer lower portions of the housing 23 confine the locking bar "32 to desired position. Springs 38 are attached on the upper ends 39 to housing 23 and on the lower ends 40 to control members 28 to normally hold "them in non-operating position.

Attached to the inner rounded stub 34 is a lower arm 4! which is connected by a link 42 to an upper arm 43 which is attached to rod Hi.

In use let us assume that the user desires A wax record 22 is placed on the mandrel 1.3. The user then pushes the button 29 marked Dictate. When pressure is applied to said button 29 the control member 28 moves downwardly until the front surface 44 of 'body portion 30 contacts the plate 36. The front surface 44 -has been out upon such a desired angle as to pivot the plate 33 to the same angle and The rod l9-has a key way I44 in which travels a roller key45. 'Ihe'roller key 45 isattachedto a 'holdingmem'ber 46 and-extends through a groove 41 in bushing 48. The holding member 46 has a pair of spaced depending ear 49. A roller 50 extending between the ears 49 is rotatably mounted in said ears. A pin 5| spaced from said roller 50 extends between said ears 49 with its ends extending beyond said ears.

Two paws 52 are pivotally attached to a pin 53 which is attached to opposite sides 54 of the carriage I8. Spacer 55 surround pin 53 and retain paws 52 in desired separated position. The paws 52 have cam surfaces adapted to cooperate with pin 5|. Springs 56 are attached on one end to paws 52 and on their other end to a fixed portion of the carriage I8.

When the rod I9 is actuated as heretofore described, the roller key 45 moves the holding member 46 so that pin 5| pushes the paws 52 downwardly to their lowest position, permitting the cutting stylus 2| to freely contact the record 22.

When the listen button 29 is pressed by the user the control member 28 attached to said pressed button 29 moves downwardly until the front surface 44 of its body portion 38 contacts the plate 36 to move it to the same angle of said front surface, which would be in substantially the opposite direction from the dictate button and its control member. The stub 34 is then moved, and through arms 4| and 43 and linkage 42, rod I9 is moved in the opposite direction. Roller key 45 then moves holding member 46 to such a position that one of the paws 52 is free from contact with pin 5| and spring 56 pulls said paw upwardly. In moving upwardly, said paw 52 engages lip 51 of pan 58 and permits sound reproducing needle 59 to move downwardly to engage the record 22.

A support 68 is pivotally attached to the carriage I8 and has a depending foot 6| having a cam portion adapted to cooperate with roller 50. Attached to said support 68 is a half nut 62 adapted to engage the screw threads of shaft 63 which is rotat-ably attached to the upstanding portions 20 of frame I0.

When the neutral button 29 is pressed by the user, the control member 28 attached to said pressed button 29 moves downwardly until the front surface 44 of its body portion 38 contacts the plate 36 to the same angle as said front surface. The stub 34 is then moved and through arms 4| and 43 and linkage 42, rod I9 is moved.

- Roller key 45 then moves holding member 46 so that pin 5| releases contact with both paws 52 and permits springs 56 to pull both paws 52 upwardly, so that one paw engages lip 51 of pan 58 and the other paw 52 engages lip 64 of disc 65. While this is being done roller 59 pushes foot 6| so as to pivot support 69 and lift half nut 62 from engagement with shaft 63. This permits the carriage I8 to be moved laterally on rod I9.

When the machine is in dictating or listening position the roller 59 is moved to such a position as to permit spring 66, which extends between carriage I8 and support 69, to pull the support downwardly so as to permit engagement of half nut 62 with screw threads of shaft 63, to provide carriage I8 with its sound member I! for movement on record 22.

Attached to the body portion 39 of the neutral control member 28 is a stop arm 6! extending upwardly through an opening 69 in the frame II] and positioned to the rear of the record 22. When the neutral button 29 is pushed, the control member 28 attached thereto is moved downwardly and carries stop arm 61 downwardly so that the record 22 may be removed from or inserted onto the mandrel I3. When either the dictating or listening control members is in operating position the neutral control member is released from operating position as heretofore set forth, and said neutral control member 28 holds stop arm 61 in an upward position with its upper end higher above the frame I9 so as to prevent a record 22 from being removed from or placed onto the mandrel I3. This prevents damage to styli, and record.

For the ejectment of the record 22 from the mandrel I3, I provide a pusher or hand 68 positioned to engage the front edge of the record 22. The pusher slidably extends into an opening 69 in frame I0. To the lower portion of the pusher 68 an elbow I8 is pivotally attached. To substantially the middle of said elbow a fulcrum or pivot II is provided, said pivot being attached to the under portion of said frame I3. Surrounding the outer end portion of said elbow I9 is the lower loop portion I2 of a lever I3. The lever is pivotally attached at the fulcrum point I4 to the under portion of the frame Ill. The other end of the lever I3 extends beyond the edge of the frame I0 and through the casing I5. A button I6 is provided at the end of said lever for manual operation.

A bar TI is slidable within sleeve 78 attached to the under portion of said frame. The front end of said bar 11 is held in constant contact with the elbow I6 above the pivot point II by means of spring I9 attached on one end to said bar 1! and on the other end to a stationary part of the frame Ill. The bar extends rearwardly to a door 80. Said door 88 has an aperture 8|, and has an integral extension 82 attached to inner stub 34.

When either the dictate or listen buttons 29 are pushed in the control members 28 attached thereto move plate 36 and stub 34 so as to swing said door in one or the other direction in front of the outer end of bar 11 and prevent the bar from further movement. When the neutral button 29 is actuated, its control member 28 moves plate 38 and stub 34 so as to swing the door to such a position that aperture BI is ready to receive the outer end of bar H. In this position button I6 can be pushed downwardly to actuate lever I3 and elbow 16 to move pusher 68 to eject the record 22 because the outer end of bar 11 may enter opening 8| in door 89. Ejectment of the record may therefore only take place when the machine is in neutral position.

A shade 83 has a substantially flat body portion 84 and end portions 85 attached to rounded stubs 34 and 35. The shade 83 has three spaced apertures 86. Attached to the housing 23 is an electric light bulb 81 connected by suitable wires to an electrical source of supply. The light bulb 81 is positioned so as to be substantially shaded in one direction by shade 83. On the other side of the shade 83 are a plurality of jewels 88 positioned immediately adjacent or below the push buttons 29. The jewels for better indication might well be differently colored. In use when the neutral button 29 is pushed and its control member 28 moves against plate 36, rounded stubs 34 and 35 are turned so as to swing shade 83 to a desired position. In this position one of the openings 86 receives the light from bulb 81 and directs the light to illuminate the jewel 88 under the neutral button. When the listen or dictate buttons are respectively pushed the same operation occurs, except that shade 83 is swung so as to expose a different opening 96 to light bulb 81 with an opening, said door attached to said plate, each of said control members adapted upon pressure to contact said plate with its surface and pivot said plate in accordance with the angle of said surface, said dictate and listen control members adapted to pivot said plate and swing said door so as to block the operation of the record ejector, said neutral control member adapted to pivot said plate and permit the record ejector 10 to operate through the opening in said door.

BENJAMIN A. SCHIFF. 

